| Montreal Alouettes | |
 Lionello with the Alouettes in 2024 | |
| Born: | 1990 (age 34–35) Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada |
|---|---|
| Career information | |
| Position(s) | Pass Game Coordinator & Receivers Coach |
| University | Victoria |
| High school | South Delta Secondary |
| Career history | |
| As administrator | |
| 2014–2015 | Simon Fraser Clan (Director of football operations) (Recruiting co-coordinator) |
| As coach | |
| 2015 | Simon Fraser Clan (Running backs coach) |
| 2016 | BC Lions (Quality control coach) |
| 2017–2018 | BC Lions (Running backs coach) |
| 2019 | Toronto Argonauts (Running backs coach) |
| 2020–2021 | Montreal Alouettes (Offensive assistant) |
| 2022–present | Montreal Alouettes (Pass Game Coordinator & Receivers coach) |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Michael Lionello is a Canadian professional football coach who is the Pass Game Coordinator & Receivers Coach for the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He is a Grey Cup champion after winning with the Alouettes in 2023.
Early life
Lionello grew up in Delta, British Columbia and played high school football at South Delta Secondary in his senior year. He later attended the University of Victoria.
Coaching career
Simon Fraser Clan
Lionello began his coaching career with the Simon Fraser Clan in 2013 after emailing head coach Dave Johnson and offering assistance with the team. In 2014, he served as the team's director of football operations and in 2015, he added the titles of running backs coach, recruiting co-coordinator, and video coordinator.
Players worked with
Ante Milanovic-Litre, Jordan Herdman, Justin Herdman, Michael Couture, Mitch Barnett, Casey Chin
BC Lions
Lionello joined the coaching staff of BC Lions as their quality control coach on March 8, 2016. He was promoted to running backs coach in 2017 and served in that role for two seasons. He was not retained for the 2019 season by the team's new head coach, DeVone Claybrooks.
Players worked with
Jeremiah Johnson, Chris Rainey, Rolly Lumbala, David Mackie, Shaquille Murray-Lawrence, Brandon Rutley, Tyrell Sutton, Wayne Moore
Toronto Argonauts
On March 26, 2019, it was announced that Lionello had joined the Toronto Argonauts as the team's running backs coach, reuniting him with former SFU head coach, Jacques Chapdelaine, who was the team's offensive coordinator. After a disappointing season for the team, Lionello was not retained for 2020.
Players worked with
James Wilder Jr., Declan Cross, A.J. Ouellette, Brandon Burks, Regis Cibasu
Montreal Alouettes
On January 9, 2020, it was announced that Lionello had been hired as an offensive assistant for the Montreal Alouettes. However, he did not coach in 2020 following the cancellation of the 2020 CFL season. On May 11, 2022, he was promoted to receivers coach for the team. He won his first Grey Cup championship in 2023 after the Alouettes defeated the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the 110th Grey Cup game.
Players worked with (by year)
2021 - Vernon Adams Jr., Trevor Harris, Matthew Shiltz, Shea Patterson, Nick Tiano
2022 - Geno Lewis (East Division Most Outstading Player), Tyson Philpot (East Division Most Outstanding Rookie), Kaion Julien-Grant, Jake Wieneke, Cole Spieker, Reggie White Jr., Chandler Worthy, Jon'Vea Johnson, Kevin Kaya
2023 - Austin Mack (CFL All-Star), Tyler Snead, Jake Harty, Greg Ellingson, James Letcher Jr., Shedler Fervius
2024 - Charleston Rambo, Nate Behar, Jose Barbon, Tyjon Lindsey
References
- ^ "Quality control coach paves football path". BC Lions. April 11, 2016.
- "Football Coaching Staff Set". Simon Fraser Red Leafs. April 10, 2015.
- ^ "Michael Lionello". Montreal Alouettes. Retrieved July 7, 2024.
- "Lions announce seven members of coaching staff not coming back for 2019". Oak Bay News. December 13, 2018.
- "Mike Lionello joins Argos coaching staff". Toronto Argonauts. March 26, 2019.
- "Coaching staff finalized; Barron Miles is back in the nest". Montreal Alouettes. January 9, 2020.
- "Nice catch: Montreal Alouettes name Mike Lionello receivers coach". 3DownNation. May 11, 2022.
- "Grey Cup comes to Tsawwassen". Delta Optimist. March 25, 2024.